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David Benavidez Vows to Hurt Canelo Alvarez, Reveals What is Stopping Him from Becoming Champion

Published 03/23/2024, 7:39 AM EDT

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There’s no denying Canelo Alvarez‘s reign at the top of the boxing world. But that lofty status comes with a price – someone looking for an opportunity to dethrone the king. Enter David Benavidez, the undefeated challenger eyeing a fight with Canelo. Benavidez’s team has been relentless in their pursuit, but Canelo’s camp remained silent until recently.

The lack of response over the years fanned the flames of frustration for the Benavidez family. Moreover, when Alvarez actually responded, his requirements were too over-the-top. He requested $200 million to step into the ring against Benavidez. Now, reflecting on that, Benavidez has sent out crude response to the undisputed champion.

“I’ve earned my respect”: David Benavidez gives a befitting response

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Canelo Alvarez threw another jab in the ongoing verbal warfare against David Benavidez. Following his press conference for the upcoming Munguia fight, Canelo refuted claims that his team was offered a $55 million purse for a Benavidez matchup. This denial added another layer of intrigue to the already heated situation.

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Further muddying the waters is the mention of Benavidez’s rehydration weight – a hefty 25 pounds above the fight limit. And Alvarez claimed that he’s only bringing that weight to the table. In response, Benavidez said, “I’m not scared of nobody. I’ve hurt everybody that’s been in front of me and Canelo is no different. And I will hurt him too and I’ll take all his belts. It’s crazy that he asked for 150 million or 200 million to fight me, but he still has the nerve to say that I don’t bring nothing to the table. So if I didn’t bring nothing to the table, why are you asking for more money than you want in your whole career?

Moreover, Benavidez  also stated in no uncertain terms what’s stopping him from taking all the belts in the super-middleweight division. He said, “I’ve been a vicious champion for a long, long time. And I’ve won my shots. I’ve earned my respect. And now the only thing that’s keeping me from being champion is Canelo. He doesn’t want to give me the shot at the title because I’ve been the number one contender for the past three years. And the dude is holding up all the belts.

Many in the boxing community believe Alvarez is ducking Benavidez, however, that’s not what the champion thinks about this situation.

Canelo Alvarez addresses ducking allegations

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When questioned about dodging Benavidez at the press event of his upcoming fight, Canelo unleashed a flurry of names. “Erislandy Lara, Austin Trout, Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto, Gennady Golovkin, Daniel Jacobs, Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders,” The names add up to a list of boxing titans he’s faced throughout his illustrious career.

If I beat Benavidez, they’re gonna say, ‘Oh, why don’t you face this other guy?’ Look at my history, I’ve done everything in boxing. I’ve done it all. I beat almost all of them. Why would I duck Benavidez now?” Canelo’s point is clear: he’s no stranger to taking on the best. He has battled his way to the top, facing and conquering the who’s-who of boxing royalty.

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According to Alvarez, the accusations of ducking don’t make sense after building up such a strong resume throughout his career. What are your thoughts about the tension flaring up between the two fighters? Let us know in the comments section.

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Written by:

Chirag Radhyan

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Chirag Radhyan is a senior boxing writer at EssentiallySports. Having authored close to 2K articles, he is a live-coverage specialist, contributing to the detailed reportage of live boxing events ranging from the Jermell Charlo vs Canelo Alvarez bout to Ryan Garcia vs Gervonta Davis. Moreover, his coverage of the off-court drama between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury received widespread appreciation from readers.
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Edited by:

Arijit Saha